Academic literature on the topic 'Manorial trials'

The present study was undertaken to quantify changes in the status of soil nutrients, their depletion and build-up after continuous long intensive cropping for last 36 years in a permanent manorial trial which has been in progress since 1972 in an alfisol of western Himalayas. The rotation was maize-wheat which included various combinations of N, P, K, Zn and FYM (farmyard manure). Continuous cultivation influenced pH, OC (organic carbon), available N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus) and K (potassium). An increase in the status of organic carbon was observed in 100% NPK + FYM treatments for more than three decades from initial value of 7.9 to 12.0 g/kg. The use of either FYM or lime alongwith 100% NPK sustained crop productivity or improved nutrient status. However, imbalanced use of nutrients i.e. NP or N alone is adversely affecting the fertility of soil by aggravating the problem of soil acidity. Application of S free P fertilizer DAP (diammonium phosphate) drastically reduced the yield of both the crops. Thus, continuous use of balanced fertilizers is necessary for sustaining soil fertility and productivity of crops.  

We translocated five colonies of the highly social and co-operatively breeding Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis, an endangered Australian honeyeater. Two colonies were released immediately (hard release) and two colonies were housed in aviaries for up to a week on-site and then supplied with food for a further week following release (soft release), A fifth colony was released using a combination of methods. All four hard and soft released colonies contained dependent fledglings at the time of release, This appears to be the first translocation of a co-operative species where intact colonies containing multiple breeding females, each with a suite of helpers have been translocated successfully. Both hard and soft release treatments appeared equally successful during an initial monitoring period of up to two months. All four colonies maintained social cohesion, and displayed high levels of survival and site fidelity. Both hard release and one soft release colony attempted to breed within 600 m of their release site within eight weeks of release, The other soft release colony bred 12 months later. We believe the inclusion of dependent young in each translocated colony provided a focus for translocated colonies that promoted site faithfulness and colony cohesion. Results of long-term monitoring remain inconclusive and it is recommended that monitoring be repeated during several future breeding events. Given our findings, we recommend that when translocating highly social species every effort is made to translocate the entire group, hard release techniques be applied and stimuli that enhance group cohesion and site faithfulness (the presence of dependent young) be exploited.

Birds are declining in agricultural landscapes around the world. The causes of these declines can be better understood by analysing change in groups of species that share life-history traits. We investigated how land-use change has affected birds of the Tasmanian Midlands, one of Australia's oldest agricultural landscapes and a focus of habitat restoration. We surveyed birds at 72 sites, some of which were previously surveyed in 1996–1998, and tested relationships of current patterns of abundance and community composition to landscape and patch-level environmental characteristics. Fourth-corner modelling showed strong negative responses of aerial foragers and exotics to increasing woodland cover; arboreal foragers were positively associated with projective foliage cover; and small-bodied species were reduced by the presence of a hyperaggressive species of native honeyeater, the noisy miner ( Manorina melanocephala ). Analysis of change suggests increases in large-bodied granivorous or carnivorous birds and declines in some arboreal foragers and nectarivores. Changes in species richness were best explained by changes in noisy miner abundance and levels of surrounding woodland cover. We encourage restoration practitioners to trial novel planting configurations that may confer resistance to invasion by noisy miners, and a continued long-term monitoring effort to reveal the effects of future land-use change on Tasmanian birds.

Background: Cereal based cropping systems are predominantly followed in south Asia because of higher productivity and profitability and ensuring food security. Rice is grown once a year in rotation mainly with wheat. Continuous cultivation of rice results in the formation of a hard pan below the ploughing layer, which may act as a barrier to normal root growth of the subsequent wheat crop. Consequently, soil bulk density is increased and hydraulic conductivity is reduced thus leading to non-conducive soil physical characteristics for the subsequent wheat crop. To reduce these ill effects, FYM is used as organic source. But live stock population is not increasing in the ratio as it is required to meet the FYM demand. Organic source requirement cannot meet through use of FYM in rice-wheat system, which is vital for food security point of view. There is need of alternate cost effective source of FYM which could enhance the soil health as well as productivity of rice-wheat system. The present study aimed to see the efficacy of growing green manure crop (Sesbania aculeata) as an alternative of FYM in the rice-wheat rotation. Methods: In this experiment conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 in on-going long term permanent manorial trial since 1984 at research farm (Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar, India), twelve treatments were taken under RBD in four replications. Observations and analysis were carried out by following the standard procedures. Result: The present investigation showed that combination of inorganic fertilizer and Sesbania aculeata helped in increasing yield as well as improving soil health. Sesbania aculeata can be used as a viable and cost effective alternative through partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers to enhance the soil health and productivity of rice-wheat system.

The second chapter describes the physical character of the study area in detail as a framework for understanding the analysis supplied in the chapters to follow. It also sets out the main sources drawn upon in the book, notably the physical remains of archaeology and the fabric of the historic landscape itself, as well as documentary sources such as Anglo-Saxon charter bounds, manorial records, deeds, legal records, and maps, which yield data about the use of space and about inhabitants’ perceptions, the latter particularly revealed by the field names and bynames coined by local people themselves, and by legal depositions dealing with contested ownerships and customary practices. Key archaeological sources include village earthworks, excavated and standing buildings, and botanical and zooarchaeological remains. Archaeological fieldwork carried out as part of the project is described, including fieldwalking, test pit and trial trench excavation, extensive buildings survey, and measuring the soundmarks of church bells.